olden attackable invoking Medusa lute overprints,…

So it probably does have something to do with the box office of the film. Though that would lead one to question why they offer all the straight-to-video stuff – surely (though I can’t be certain on this matter) more people will be interested in “Charlie Bartlett” than, say, “Raising Jeffrey Dahmer” (though I guess I could be wrong.)

In fact, one of my few complaints with Redbox is the lack of smaller, independent, and foreign films. I mean, I don’t expect them to start offering the newest Kiarostami or Sokurov films – but I imagine some of the “bigger”, Oscar-nominated stuff like “Persepolis” and “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” (both PG-13) would do alright (interesting to note: “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” actually made more in US theaters than “P2″.) They’re not going to get as many rentals as “Definitely, Maybe” – but it seems to me that they could still offer a few copies for rent. And once again, I imagine some of the bigger foreign/independent releases are going to be more popular than some of the straight-to-video stuff they offer. They’re certainly higher in quality, nine times out of ten.

Of course, there’s probably more than just box office that’s keeping them from releasing some of the titles. Licensing issues and the such (though most of the bigger foreign films are distributed by the mainstream studios – Warner, Sony, etc.) And I know there’s limited space inside a Redbox – I just think that using even a dozen of the spaces for “alternative” titles would be cool.

And before someone accuses me of being a film snob (too late, probably) – I love Redbox. I love lots of mainstream titles. I just like a variety of films – and I hate having to go to Blockbuster or Hollywood to rent some of the smaller films, after being spoiled with the $1/night rentals from Redbox.

I know Redbox doesn’t get the “unrated” movie versions any more, so probably this was a bit too risqué for them as well. Redbox is a subsidiary of McDonald’s therefore must make some attempt at keeping their “wholesome” image (as they serve nutritional equivalent of garbage to children.)